Montessori and Nature Education A Presentation By Mariel Garcia April 11, 2003

Dr. Maria Montessori • Born in Chiaravalle, Italy in 1870 • Graduated from medical school as the first female physician in Italy in 1896 • Became interested in the child’s learning process • Returned to school and became a professor at the University of Rome

Dr. Maria Montessori • Founded the first Casa del Bambini, or "Children's House” in 1906 • Developed the Montessori method of education • Traveled extensively around the world throughout her life • Died in Noordwijk, Holland in 1952

Montessori Terminology • Absorbent mind- the ability of the child to learn unconsciously from his environment • Adaptation- the process of the response of individual to the environment • Didactic materials- instructive materials used in teaching • Freedom- the child’s free movements and experiences in an environment that provides discipline through liberty and respect for his rights

Montessori Terminology

• Practical life exercises- exercises through which the child learns to care for himself and his environment • Prepared environment- an atmosphere created to enable the child to be free to learn in peaceful surroundings adapted to the child’s size and interests • Sensitive periods- periods of learning during which a child is particularly sensitive to a specific stimulus

•

Montessori vs. Traditional Attention is focused on the • Attention is focused on

child • Learning is at each individual child’s pace • Children choose the work they do at school

the

teacher • Learning is at the group’s pace • The teacher chooses the work for the children

The Montessori Curriculum • • • • •

Practical life exercises Sensorial activities Language activities Mathematics activities Culture activities

Montessori and Nature Education

“There must be provision for the child to have contact with Nature; to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony, and the beauty in Nature…so that the child may better understand and participate in the marvelous things which civilization creates…”

- Maria Montessori

River Legacy Science Center • Environmental education facility located in Arlington, Texas • River Legacy Nature School provides “an environment that encourages a child’s inborn sense of wonder to flourish through indoor activities and outdoor exploration.” • Emphasis on “inquiry-based learning”

Major Premise Is the nature education taught at River Legacy Science Center based on key components of the Montessori educational system?

Guiding Questions • Is the River Legacy classroom set up in a way that is conducive to the child’s conscious absorption of the environment? • Does the River Legacy classroom allow the child to learn in a way that does not stifle his or her freedom? • To what degree is inquiry driven by Montessori?

Hypothesis I propose that the River Legacy Science Center does not provide nature education based on the principles of the Montessori educational system.

Methodology • Project based on observations rather than data received directly from the children • Focused on classroom materials, activities, and teaching style • Took additional notes for any miscellaneous observations

River Legacy Nature School

• Opossum’s Den • 4-year old classroom • Tuesday class: 9 children (3 girls, 6 boys) • 1 teacher, 1 assistant • Once a week, 2½ hours • Curriculum: habitats

River Legacy Nature School

• Spider’s Web • 5-year old classroom • Thursday class: 9 children (8 boys, 1 girl) • 1 [Montessori] teacher, 1 assistant • Once a week, 2½ hours • Curriculum: elements of an ecosystem

Classroom Materials and Activities Montessori Materials: Animals 4 yr old 5 yr old Birdfeeder outside window? Class pet or animal? Visiting animals to the classroom? Are there care and handling lessons for visiting animals? Have the kids observed a hatching cocoon? Animal books available to kids? Pictures of animals on walls?

Y Y Y Y

Y Y Y Y

N

Y

Y Y

Y Y

A Look Into the Classroom

Classroom Materials and Activities 4 yr old 5 yr old Montessori Materials: Plants Plants inside the classroom? Do the kids take care of them? Do the children use any natural/preserve art materials? Do they learn a plant’s scientific name? Do the children garden? Plant books available to kids? Pictures of plants on walls?

Y N N*

Y N Y

Y*

Y

N Y Y

Y Y Y

Classroom Materials and Activities Montessori Materials: Nature Table

4 yr old

5 yr old

Nature table present in classroom? Is it clean? Does it constantly change? Magnifying glass on table? Do the children clean the table? Do the children arrange table items?

Y Y Y Y N N

Y Y Y Y N N

Nature Table

Classroom Materials and Activities More specific Montessori materials: 4 yr old 5 yr old Small flower arranging vases

N

Y*

Plant mister

N

N

Garden tools

Y

Y

Animal card games

Y

N*

Plant card games

N*

N*

Binoculars

Y

Y

Metamorphosis books and puzzles

N

Y

Animal models

Y

Y

Shell collection

Y

N*

Fossils

Y

N*

Nature School Teachers

Teaching Style Montessori Pedagogy: Training/Education

4 yr old

5 yr old

Has the teacher ever enrolled in Montessori teaching classes?

N

Y

Is the teacher a certified Montessori teacher?

N

Y

Has the teacher ever attended Montessori school?

N

N

Has the teacher ever taught at a Montessori school?

N

Y

Has the teacher ever sent her own children to a Montessori school?

N

Y

Teaching Style Montessori Pedagogy: Lessons

4 yr old

5 yr old

Are the lessons geared toward the individual child (versus the entire class)?

N*

N*

Are the lessons informative, but brief?

Y

Y

Are the lessons simple enough for the child to understand?

Y

Y

Is the teacher objective in her lessons?

Y

Y

Teaching Style Montessori Pedagogy: Concept of Freedom

4 yr old

5 yr old

Does the child get to choose what they work on?

Y*

N*

Does the child get to work on a certain activity for as long as he/she wants?

Y*

Y*

Are children allowed to move freely around the room? Does the teacher take on the passive role of observer (versus active role)?

Y

N*

Y

Y

Concept of Freedom: Work Centers

Teaching Style Montessori Activities: Outdoor Curriculum

4 yr old

5 yr old

Does the teacher give children the opportunity to go outside often? Do they walk on the trails and/or in the woods? Does the teacher take the kids out into nature in different kinds of weather? Do they go out into nature during different seasons?

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Outdoor Curriculum

Limitations • The brevity of the nature school session (2½ hours) may have affected activities and pedagogy observations • The activities and lessons vary from week to week, and so may have affected similarities and differences to the Montessori method • My presence in the classroom may have also affected observations

Conclusion Although differences between Montessori and River Legacy nature education were observed, there were many [unexpected] similarities between the two educational methods. Thus, the River Legacy educational system was found to contain some of the key components of the Montessori educational system.